Agwatashi Community Demands Delisting from Alleged Illegal Arms Factory Report, Warns of Legal Action if Retraction Is Not Issued

By David Odama

Agwatashi (Olosoho) community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has called on the Nigerian Army to immediately delist its name from communities allegedly harbouring illegal arms manufacturing factories in the country.

The appeal followed a viral report that reportedly identified Agwatashi as a community where an illegal arms manufacturing operation was uncovered by the military.
In a statement signed by the community’s Youth Leader, Aliyu Adokwe, and made available to journalists on Sunday, the community recalled that Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), had confirmed the discovery of an illegal arms factory in a statement issued last Monday in Makurdi.
According to the statement, Lt. Zubairu disclosed that troops deployed to a Forward Operating Base (FOB), during routine patrols, uncovered a concealed location suspected to be used for the illegal production of locally fabricated weapons.
“Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have uncovered an illegal arms manufacturing factory in Agwatashi, in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,” the statement quoted him as saying.
It further stated that a thorough search of the location led to the recovery of six locally fabricated pistols, assorted tools and equipment believed to be used in the production of illegal weapons, the sum of ₦40,500, and a mobile phone allegedly found on a suspect.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the location served as an illegal arms manufacturing site supplying criminal elements with firearms within and beyond the area,” the statement added.
Reacting, Adokwe maintained that Agwatashi (Olosoho) is located in Obi Local Government Area and not in Doma Local Government Area, as stated in the military report.
He explained that Agbashi is a separate community situated in Doma Local Government Area, stressing that it is distinct from Agwatashi.
“We wish to appeal to the military authorities to give this matter the necessary attention and urgently remove Agwatashi Community, which was erroneously presented to the whole world as a place where an illegal arms factory was discovered, even though both communities are in Nasarawa State,” the statement said.
Adokwe further clarified that Agwatashi (Olosoho) and Agbashi are two different communities located in separate local government areas—Obi and Doma respectively—and that the name of Agwatashi was wrongly mentioned in the military statement.
He emphasized that Agwatashi (Olosoho) is a peace-loving community with no history of criminality or involvement in illegal arms activities, adding that no security agency has ever uncovered an illegal arms factory or made related arrests in the community.
According to him, the community views the report as a deliberate attempt to rob it of its hard-earned reputation and the positive image it has built over several decades.
“We therefore call on the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force and Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) to retract the report and clear the name of Agwatashi (Olosoho) community, or we will have no option than to seek legal redress against the military authorities,” the statement warned.